Searchin' My Soul


"Searchin' My Soul" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer and actress Vonda Shepard. It originally appeared on her second studio album, The Radical Light, as the first track. In 1997, it served as the opening theme to the American legal comedy drama television program Ally McBeal and was included on the show's first soundtrack album, Songs from Ally McBeal, which was released in 1998. In April of that same year, "Searchin' My Soul" was released as a single from the soundtrack.
"Searchin' My Soul" exposed Shepard's music to a worldwide audience and became a chart hit. It reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and peaked at number 14 on both the Billboard Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 rankings. In the United Kingdom, it debuted and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Shepard her only top-10 hit there. In Canada and Finland, the song entered the top 10, reaching numbers six and eight, respectively.

Critical reception

Billboard magazine reviewed the song in April 1998, calling the track an equal sum of its parts and highlighting its "infectious, sing-along" chorus, noting it is not instantly forgettable.

Track listings

UK CD1
  1. "Searchin' My Soul" – 3:59
  2. "I Started a Joke" – 3:27
  3. "I Only Want to Be with You" – 2:12
UK CD2
  1. "Searchin' My Soul" – 3:14
  2. "100 Tears Away" – 4:50
  3. "I Only Want to Be with You" – 2:12
UK cassette single
  1. "Searchin' My Soul" – 3:59
  2. "Hooked on a Feeling" – 2:58
European CD single
  1. "Searchin' My Soul"
  2. "I Started a Joke"
European maxi-CD single
  1. "Searchin' My Soul"
  2. "I Started a Joke"
  3. "100 Tears Away"
Australian CD single
  1. "Searchin' My Soul"
  2. "100 Tears Away"
  3. "I Started a Joke"

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Songs from Ally McBeal album booklet.
Studios
Personnel